Day: January 17, 2015

How are Flaws presented in Othello and a range of poetry you have studied?

In this essay, I will be discussing the flaws presented in Othello, by William Shakespeare. I will also discuss the flaws presented in ‘The laboratory’ and ‘Porphyria’s Lover’, written both by Robert Browning. Both authors include characteristic flaws to support the structure and theme of their piece. I shall also be discussing the similarities and differences between these three pieces and give an in-depth analysis of specific language devices and their roles.

In Othello Shakespeare purposely creates characteristic flaws to support its theme and structure. The play Othello is a tragedy and Shakespeare gives the characters specific flaws that help lead towards their downfall, hence supporting the tragedy structure. Similarly, Robert Browning also uses this technique but instead to support the dramatic monologue structure of his pieces.

Repetition is used widely in both Browning’s and Shakespeare pieces. However, both authors adapt this language device depending on the context.

Shakespeare uses repetition to represent Othello’s main flaw, which is his innocence. Its Othello’s innocence that makes him become vulnerable and unaware of Iago’s deceit and manipulations,” The Moor is of a free and open nature that thinks men honest that but seems to be so”. Iago is openly identifying Othello characteristics and intends to use it for his own gains. Shakespeare has created the dramatic irony by allowing the audience to know more of Iago’s intentions than Othello himself. One reason that Shakespeare may have used this style is to support the play’s theme of a dramatic ending, where Othello’s downfall is due to him unaware of the situation he’s in. The repetition of ‘honesty’ comes when Othello questions Iago’s intention, but when Iago hastily turns defensive Othello is convinced Iago is full of honour and loyalty, “I know thou art full of love and honesty”. This reoccurs throughout the play with Othello too trustworthy to question Iago’s motive. Similarly, Shakespeare used the repetition of honest to support the play’s structure of a dramatic ending, where essentially its Othello’s innocence and unawareness that contributes dearly.

There are several themes in Porphyria’s Lover by Robert Browning, such as love and ignorance. These flaws are specifically created by browning to support the structure, dramatic monologue and theme of the poem. Similar to Shakespeare, Browning also uses repetition in his pieces.

Porphyria is murdered because her lover believes that her death is the only way the two can be together. This illustrates his vigorous love for porphyria and browning has presented this flaw by the use of repetition of “she was mine”. Once he realised that his love for porphyria has ended in her death, he immediately becomes melodramatic and becomes repetitive, and this is a similar trait that we see in Othello. Browning has used this technique to emphasise the characters regret and remorse to the audience. Also, the flaw of love plays a strong part towards the structure of the play as it allows the speaker to take control of the audience by his speech, hence having a dramatic monologue structure.

Othello is full of resentment and Shakespeare presents this flaw by the use of metaphors. Othello downfall is caused by his anger. Once Iago manages to plant the idea of infidelity into Othello’s mind, Othello immediately becomes melodramatic and Shakespeare uses metaphors to show this rage towards Cassio. “Had all his hairs been lives, my great revenge had stomach for them all”. Othello compares Cassio’s life with all the hairs on a being and implies that he would be able to kill them all to satisfy his revenge. Shakespeare has used metaphors to represent Othello’s flaw of resentment to emphasise the scenario to the audience, as it is Othello’s anger that plays a pivotal part in the murder of his wife Desdemona and supports the theme of the play which is love and anger.

The laboratory, by Robert browning, has several themes, such as jealousy, resentment and love. Also, the poem is a dramatic monologue, which means some of the flaws presented in the poem could be to support the structure of the poem.

The main characters actions are motivated by resentment and this acts as a flaw. Once she found out about her husband unfaithfulness, she is soon overcome by anger and plots to poison her husband’s lover. Robert browning represents this flaw by the use of alliteration.” Which is the poison to poison her, prithee?” She is asking which poison will work the best. The three main words in that sentence all start with the letter P, browning has used this alliteration not only to represent the flaw of resentment but to also support the theme of the poem which is about love, revenge, jealousy and anger.

Othello is insecure and it is his insecurities that lead to his downfall. Othello is not ignorant of his position in Venetian society and more uncivilised nature, “for I am black and have not those soft parts of conversation”. Othello believes Desdemona does not love him as he is black and lacks manners. Iago is eager to capitalise on Othello’s flaw and manipulates the scenario so that Othello believes his wife is unfaithful. As Othello is already insecure, he quickly succumbs to the thought. Once Othello firmly believes he has been cuckolded he immediately becomes melodramatic and Shakespeare uses repetition to represent this, “Damn her, lewd minx! O, damn her, damn her!” Othello is condemning Desdemona to hell and is clearly being melodramatic by repeating it several times. Shakespeare has used this device to draw attention to Othello’s insecurities, as it is Othello’s own insecurities that contribute to the tragic ending structure of the play.

Othello is swamped by jealousy. Iago uses Othello’s flaw to his advantage to manipulate his thoughts. Iago does this by pretending to give Othello words of advice, “beware jealousy, it is the green-eyed monster that dost mock the meat it feeds on”. Iago is advising Othello not to become jealous as it could prove fatal. This cunning from Iago grants him safety if Othello ever dare suspect Iago of ill deeds. Notice that Shakespeare has personified jealousy by giving characteristics, describing it as a “green-eyed monster”. Shakespeare has used this piece of figurative language o highlight Othello’s flaw of jealousy. As jealousy is a key theme in the play, also its Othello’s jealousy that leads him to kill his wife, so by putting emphasis on jealousy Shakespeare is effectively supporting the dramatic ending structure of the play.

In the laboratory, the characters motives are based upon humiliation. Meaning the characters flaw is her pride. Angered by the thought of her husband and his new lover are laughing at her, “While they laugh, laugh at me”. Believing she is being humiliated, she quickly begins to plot their murders. Browning has created this as a focal point by the use of repetition. The repetition of laugh indicates that it’s her pride that’s causing her to plot revenge. Meaning it’s her motive and hence browning’s use of repetition to represent her flaw.

To conclude, the poems/plays had very similar flaws. Browning and Shakespeare have created these flaws to acts as motives for the characters actions. They hold similar consequences as well. In Othello, his flaws of jealousy and pride cause him in murdering his wife that he cherished, yes this was due to some manipulation by Iago but he was blinded by the truth through his insecurities. Analogically, in the dramatic monologue created by Browning, the characters flaws influence their action. With similar themes as Othello, such as love and murder. The characters in the laboratory and porphyria lover both, murder or plot to murder in the name of love.

The sound pierced my ears. Beep. Beep. The school bell rings, signalling an end to a prolonged and humdrum day. All that was left was a journey across the treacherous school yard. Dodge the pigeons that lay mounted on top of the maths building waiting to strike, without spraining your ankle on the pot holes that lay like mines in a battlefield first and you inch closer to the place precious the most, Home.

Still, a perilous and tiresome mission lay ahead. As the bright blue sky beckoned me on I took one small step out the steel cage that had incarcerated me for the last 6 hours and into the world of freedom. A land where you can play clash of clans whenever you feel like, without being gazed upon like eagles by the prison officers, or “teachers” as they like to call themselves. Now safely outside the school gates, a short walk to the bus stop and a 30 min bus journey had separated me and paradise.

Sitting comfortably on the top deck of the bus, surrounded by a stench of afternoon B.O and 48 hours old chicken and chips, I began counting the number of bus stops left. As the minutes ticked away and the old tramp has had his usual rant, I finally heard the familiar sound that poured joy into my heart.

“Crawly Road”

I leapt from the seat, did the whole flight of stairs in two simultaneous jumps and boom. I was out. Welcomed by the row of pine corns that illuminated the street. I strolled down the street, turned right into the front porch that was littered with sunflowers and slotted in the keys to paradise. Aha. Home sweet home. Quick salutations to the parents and a date with the games console awaited. The transmission from school clothes to comfy tracksuit had always been quick, this usually involved a 10-minute lecture from mum, about how the staircase railing was not a wardrobe.

Just as I prepared to sooth the pain of having six assignments due with a dose of PlayStation, I realised I had forgotten something. My phone. I frantically searched my school clothes in hope of feeling a square like object. But nothing. All that was there was a piece of gum and a spare button. I called the school in desperate hopes of them fading my phone and just as I was giving up all hope the secretary had told me the caretaker had handed in a phone similar to mind earlier this morning. It was music to my ears. However, the idea of waiting a whole weekend until I would be reunited with my prized possession was out of the question. there was only one thing to do.

I had never been to school after hours, well never been there out of my own free will anyway. The school looked different at this time of day. The darkness covered the cracks the battle hardened school wore. I saw it in a new light. For a moment I admired the late 19th-century artwork, it was truly a masterpiece. The roof fitted like a missing piece of the jigsaw and the lights underneath that blazed upon the building gave it a look of importance. I shook my self-clean of the temporary stupefaction and headed towards the school doors.
As I walked in the darkness covered my eyes like a blanket. The reception was normally lit with illuminating lights and camouflaged in Navy banners. I made a few hesitant steps towards the corridors and thanked the lord when the sensor lights came on. I gave my eyes a few seconds to adapt to its new environment and I set out looking for the secretary.

The playground was uninhabited, it looked as its life had been sucked by a dominator. It gave me a cold chill down the spine, I had never seen the playground without energetic teenagers effortless floating around and causing their usual mischief. However, the flood lights did allow me to see the state it was in. in daylight it appeared to be ridden with potholes and other safety hazards. However when giving it a further inspection I saw a smooth, wood-like surface reflecting the light. My curiosity came over me and I decided to investigate more. Just as I made my way through the corridor full of mouldy lockers and food remains I turned to see the secretary standing right behind me. In shock, I jumped a couple of spaces. But what came next was even more unusual. Without a word, I was handed my phone and politely gestured back towards the reception. As if the secretary had understood my intentions and quickly swept in to stop me.

As I left the school you thought of the playground soon evaporated in my mind. I had my phone and that was all that mattered.